Thanks to The New York Post, we saw this piece in Broadcasting & Cable that suggests producers are thinking of tweaking specific components of American Idol next season. According to B&C, a recent online market research survey asks several key questions, including “Suppose the first few weeks of American Idol started in Hollywood with flashbacks of the auditions; would that increase or decrease your enjoyment of American Idol?” (My answer: Increase! Am I in the minority?)
Among the other questions, which B&C paraphrases, are: Is there too much or too littlebanter between the judges? And is there too much or not enough Ryan? (Considering I fast-forward through any "banter" and any "Ryan," I’m guessing my answer is too much. Though, full disclosure, I also fast-forward through anything that’s not one of the contestants singing on stage.)
So, let’s help Fox out. Answer those questions below. And feel free to mention any other areas you’d like producers to target. It’s a broken record, at this point, to say that the results show needs to be overhauled… but go for it.
I hate the auditions. I watch Idol to hear good singers. If I want to hear bad singing I can sing to myself. I hate hearing the backstory and then having the person cut in Hollywood. Let us get to know the finalist (I don’t care about the others). Get rid of all the Ford commercials no one enjoys them. Finally Simon is the only judge worth hearing. Turn off Paula and Randy’s mics and let Simon speak.
get rid of Paula
Too much banter and Ryan – who cares? Slezak’s perennial suggestion to randomize the judge’s seating arrangement would be great, too.
Hate the auditions, and I too fast forward through everything but the singing and Simon’s comments.
I think they need to overhaul the voting system – one vote per phone, or at least a limited number – same with texting. I didn’t watch a good portion of last season due to the bad singers that kept getting through. I don’t watch to make fun of bad singers – I want to hear good singers and figure out which contestants CD’s I’d be interested in buying.
In the first season, the level of talent was fairly low, but the fans were engaged because they got to know the contestants. This season has the most talented contestants ever and we know the least about them. I don’t think the producers should be surprised that ratings are falling.
i like the auditions, but do think they go on too long. possibly combining Hollywood week (which feels like the official beginning of the show) with the auditions would help.
also, why do the idols have to sing so many old songs? i love music from all genres and time periods, but the show needs to update THEIR musical references. i am dying for a 90s week or songs from last year theme weeks. and mentorships- timberland or alicia keys or a million other artists who have made songs in the last decade. if these were mixed with older stars, the show would be more relevant. as it is now, it seems to be stuck in a time warp. overhaul theme/mentor weeks….please!!!!!!!!!!!
Sadly, like any show, it has run it’s course. Put it out of it’s misery and quietly retire it. In 10 years we may be itching for new seasons and will welcome it’s antics. I was a big fan but genuinely bored this Season.
PART 1: Seacrest may be vacant yet somehow too sleek, but he’s not the primary reason for the show’s downturn. The show has a been-there-done-that feel. It needs a real injection of “new.”
Let’s start with the judges. There is no constructive criticism from the judges (“you did your thing,” “it was karaoke” and “you look beautiful” offer nothing). Please replace Randy and Paula with judges that offer substance. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Anastacia Brown or Tracy Gershon who used to serve on Nashville Star. They know how to offer criticism.
Look to Canadian Idol (available on You Tube) – the judges rotate the order and come from 4 varied fields. The Randy-Paula-Simon order is tired.
Try putting the judges on the spot more. In “You’re the One that I Want,” the bottom 2 vote getters re-auditioned for the judges and the judges decided who was going home. Or shows like “Make Me a Super Model” where the judges decided who the least deseving were and let the public then vote.
Ditch the auditions! They are long and dragged out and take up too much time. Show maybe a few funny ones, a few great ones and move on to Hollywood and get down to business. Get rid of Randy. He’s too repetitive and annoying. Keep Simon..he makes the show! Keep Paula! She’s good for some laughs. Last but not least, make the viewers votes count! Stop with the pre chosen ones! Like it or not, let America actually pick the winner instead of the AI producers and staff! Put the “real” back into “Reality”
Ditch Randy. Enough of the “Yo, dawg, check it out” and other equally odd things he says, not to mention the hand gestures. I, for one, don’t know what they mean and don’t particularly want to know. Ryan Seacrest is a little boring now that we’re used to his peculiarities. He’s too perky to be a man.
Get rid of Paula. Randy is starting to open up a little about who is doing what wrong, Simon at least says yeah or nay. The show should start with Hollywood week and recap the auditions of only those who got through. New twist – Judges pick which song all contestants sing each week but they all should sing the same song, that way you could really pick out whose who. Let’s hear some 70′s 80′s & 90′s though.
Idol needs to respect it’s viewers and provide certified results that have been audited by an INDEPENDENT auditing firm NOT associated with Idol or any of it’s holding companies. Plus, limiting the number of votes so those that want to have a say can. As it is now, frustration sets in when busy signals are what is heard and people stop trying. In addition, voting for who had the worst night instead of the best would change the entire process.
I would like to see the votes limited to no more than three per phone number. The auditions could be greatly reduced or elimina5ed. There is way too much repetition. Show it once and then let it go.
I agree with Seeking unemployment. They should use the judges like “Make Me a Super Model” and have them decide who goes up for the vote and then allow America to vote on which of the choosen they would vote off. Then it can be more of a true talent competition and not who has the most tweens that will be willing to sit for 2 hrs straight hitting redial and voting for the popular and not necessarily the talented.